Just found out I am pregnant and I am vegan

[Kiri89]

I just found out I am pregnant. At the same time I am just about to start doula and childbirth educator training. My world is about to revolve around pregnancy :) Perfect seeing as my whole life I have been obsessed with pregnancy, my poor mum was terrified I would end up being a young single mother. But I always knew I couldnt be the best mum I could be if I was single and had just anyones kid. I am engaged getting married next month. I am so excited I am pregnant. I am vegan though and would love any advice any vegan mums have for me? I feel vegan is the healthiest choice for my individual body but soon my body wont just be mine alone. How can I do it best for my baby as well?

[jellyphish]

Whatever is healthy for you is healthy for baby. I just completed my second completely healthy vegan pregnancy. Not only is it possible, but *I* feel it's important to have a vegan pregnancy. And this is only speculation of course, but I honestly believe that my veganism, and therefore lack of ingesting animals hormones, is quite possibly the reason I never got morning sickness.

As with a meaty diet, it's important to keep balanced nutrition. Take your prenatals (I'm a big fan of CountryLife whose prenatals are vegan), and continue with your healthy diet. Obviously do not fall into the trap of being a junk-food veg.

Don't let anyone tell you vegans can't have healthy pregnancies, that's a load of bs from someone who doesn't know jack about the diet!! Even my CNMs/OB agree that it can be healthy, they had info ready for me about what nutrition to find in what foods, and said "you probably know all this, but take it anyway."

If there's something specific youre worried about, feel free to post here and I'll let you know what I know.

[jellyphish]

Oh, I also have two completely healthy, vegan daughters. If you're planning on raising your babe vegan as well, I can support you with that as well.

And also, congratulations!!

[_muffin_]

Congrats!!!! As long as you are eating healthy you are fine. Meat and dairy are not the only source of protein and calcium.

I had just started my doula training/ certification when I got pregnant. I was unable to attend births after about 4 months due but worked on other area until after I gave birth. Congrats again and enjoy your pregnancy and training.

[Kiri89]

Why couldnt you attend births? Is it dangerous? Are pregnant women not allowed to attend births?

[peaches_04]

Congrats !
Theres plenty of plant based proteins
Pumpkin seeds have more protein then alot of meats do
Just do a little research

[_muffin_]

I should have said "chose to not attend births". The last birth I did I think I was around 4.5 months along. She went to labor early afternoon and didn't give birth until well into the next day. A whole night of physically supporting the mom was a lot to handle. I would help hold her up during contractions and combined with being up all night would be exhausting for a normal woman. I decided to put off attending births so I could get my rest and put myself first. I also didn't want to find myself in a position where a mom asked me to do something and I couldn't do it.

Quoting Kiri89:

Why couldnt you attend births? Is it dangerous? Are pregnant women not allowed to attend births?

[littlelambe2]

Disclaimer: I'm not vegan

I have read a lot about nutrition and pregnancy and from what I remember, a vegan expecting mom needs to make sure they are getting enough vitamin b 6, 12, and dha, as these are mostly found in animal products. I'm sure a vegan prenatal would have your daily dose as "insurance" that you're getting enough.

[peaches_04]

Love the "disclaimer" :)

Quoting littlelambe2:

Disclaimer: I'm not vegan



I have read a lot about nutrition and pregnancy and from what I remember, a vegan expecting mom needs to make sure they are getting enough vitamin b 6, 12, and dha, as these are mostly found in animal products. I'm sure a vegan prenatal would have your daily dose as "insurance" that you're getting enough.

[Mrs.Salz]

I've read this too, more than once.

Quoting littlelambe2:

Disclaimer: I'm not vegan

I have read a lot about nutrition and pregnancy and from what I remember, a vegan expecting mom needs to make sure they are getting enough vitamin b 6, 12, and dha, as these are mostly found in animal products. I'm sure a vegan prenatal would have your daily dose as "insurance" that you're getting enough.

[H.I.S.]

 

Quoting littlelambe2:

Disclaimer: I'm not vegan

I have read a lot about nutrition and pregnancy and from what I remember, a vegan expecting mom needs to make sure they are getting enough vitamin b 6, 12, and dha, as these are mostly found in animal products. I'm sure a vegan prenatal would have your daily dose as "insurance" that you're getting enough.

 I am also not vegan, but I just wanted to say that even a prenatal with synthetic b vitamins and plant based omega's are not processed and absorbed like animal based ones.

You can only get long chain fatty acids, vitamin b-12, and vitamin a from animals and their products. There is not a real b-12 in plant based foods & supplements, just the analogues, and they are *not* bioavailable.

Sure, you can eat all of the synthetic vitamins from fortified foods that your body doesn't recognize, but I personally would *at least* be eating pastured eggs from from hens that hunt & peck, raw coconut oil for saturated fat, cod liver oil or full-fat butter from grass fed cows for vitamin a.

I think that many people can thrive on vegan or veg diet if you're careful, but not everybody can...especially a new baby that is easily susceptible to malnutrition. One diet will not suit everyone kwim?

Good luck to you!